Southampton Transfer Rumours

12 Apr 2019 11:58:07
Krueger has 'departed' the club.
People were calling for him, Hughes and Reed to go, now they have.
Wonder what's happening behind the scenes now then. Is the summer war chest being readied?

29 Mar 2019 06:58:02
All been very quiet on here for a while. unlike some. of the other club pages!
Ed I know you're getting hassled left, right and centre on some of the other pages, but wondered if you had anything new for us in terms of transfers in/ out and what the plans are for our many loanees.
Thanks.

31 Mar 2019 10:53:51
I wrote out a pretty long and detailed response teejay and then deleted it by accident so let's hope this one makes it! 😂

I'm not in the know enough about who I'd want to bring in. we're obviously not going to be bringing in big names or spend mega money and my knowledge of the football world. isn't what it used to be.

We do however have a squad that is far too big when you consider the players we have out on loan so my list of who should leave is a bit more comprehensive.

I think Austin will leave this summer and possibly long, although the manager might like him as an option off the bench. Ralph needs to decide if Gallagher is good enough to make the grade and actually play at this level. If he can't consistently challenge for a starting place then I feel we should let him. go for the sake of his career. That could potentially leave us with just ings and obafemi, so we desperately need at least one striker who can score and stay fit. Carrillo isn't going to play under Ralph I doubt, so let's find a buyer for him.

I would like to see whether boufal can be reintegrated and push himself to Ralph's standards of effort and fitness. If he can then we may have a real player on our hands. If not then he has to be SOLD and not just loaned. Again sims and hesketh need to either grab their chances in pre-season or be sold to further their careers instead of wasting it as back ups to our back up. I may get shot down here but I would love to see lallana back. His wages are probably too high but his quality on the ball and pressing is still great, if he stays fit for long enough. He would add creativity that we lack behind the front men.

I think our midfield is very good as it is so I don't think we need any additions. other than getting hojbjerg signed on a new contract! If we got offered decent money for lemina I would be happy to let him go. This would possibly give an opportunity to Harrison reed to step up and finally challenge for a place in the first team. He's had 2 successful loans in the championship. Like sims and Gallagher its now or never really. Clasie should hopefully be sold or released this year.

At the back I think Stephens should be sold. I just don't think he quite has the quality for the premier league. Hoedt needs to be sold, even if it's at a loss. Ralph doesn't rate him. We need a new RB to challenge with Valery and a new competent, demanding, top quality CB to in alongside bednarek with vestergaard and yoshida providing back up and competition. Targett and Bertrand are good a LB. Gunn is obviously our number 1 now so one (or both with a replacement) of McCarthy and/ or forster should be sold too.

This would raise some. decent funds and cut the wage bill, allowing for a higher grade of player to join the squad. our sales department have their work cut out this summer! Haha.

31 Mar 2019 16:56:00
I agree with pretty much everything you say Milky. I would love to see Boufal back provided that he has grown up a bit and has a better attitude. Maybe Ralph would get him into the right frame of mind. Lemina can do a good job for us when he's in the mood but he seems to have too many off days. We definitely need a good striker in and Austin, Long and Carillo sold. Bednarek is our best central defender by far and we need another in to play alongside him. I agree that Yoshida and Vestergaard are good back up options. Left side of defence pretty good but back up needed for Valery. I also agree with shipping out McCarthy and Forster and bringing in a younger keeper to back up Gunn. I see your point about Lallana but I really don't think that I would want him back nor do I think that he would take the sort of drop in wages required to rejoin us. I'm hoping that Ralph has a couple of players in mind that he feels will fit with his way of playing. Everything is hypothetical at the moment of course as we are not guaranteed to be playing premier league football next season yet but yesterday's result and Chelsea's lucky smash and grab at Cardiff has given us a little breathing space. Hopefully pick up a couple more wins and we'll be safe. Really looking forward to a full season under Ralph.

31 Mar 2019 18:18:51
We've suffered some dodgy decisions in our time so. while it is harsh on Cardiff, I'm glad. it gives us a little breathing space. No time to take our foot off the gas though. Need to keep pressing on. Yes hypothetical, but may be some of the names we were linked with in January will come through. Che Adams and mearhle the Danish RB?

01 Apr 2019 12:37:03
Adams gone a bit quiet last couple of weeks but still rate him. With Birmingham struggling and could even be relegated he could be available for less than originally thought. Can't comment on Mearhle as I've not seen much of him.

02 Apr 2019 16:36:37
Don’t really want us to splash mega cash - no big money signings have ever worked for us. Buy several young players for £6-10m, who can prove themselves and show off to the rest of the world in a Saints shirt.

Get rid of the six or seven pieces of deadwood and replace them with five young, fit, energetic players who will fit Ralph’s style, and we could push Wolves for seventh and potentially Europe next season.

Also feel like Ralph could win a cup if he’s with us for two more years.

10 Mar 2019 22:39:39
I think it's all down to us, Burnley and Cardiff - looking at run ins, Newcastle, Palace and Brighton will probably just about have enough, but Burnley and Cardiff have quite frankly vile finishes to the season compared to us.

Burnley have Leicester, Wolves, Bournemouth and Cardiff before they finish with Chelsea, City, Everton and Arsenal - they may well nick 2 or 3 points from those final four but from the next three only maybe 3 or 4 - that'll give them about 36 excluding the Cardiff home game.

Cardiff have Chelsea and City in their next two before Burnley, finishing with Liverpool, Fulham, Palace, Brighton and United - they'll probably beat Fulham and maybe Palace at home if that's do or die, which leaves them with 34 excluding the Burnley game.

That means 37 points minimum will grant safety - 38 for sure, 34 if Burnley beat Cardiff (GD is far superior), so we need 8 from 8 at worst, four at best. Brighton away will now be tough - if we turn up we win, if we don't we lose, anything in between and it'll probably be a draw. I'd love to give Liverpool a game, especially if it dents their title chances - VVD own goal would be lovely - but we will most likely not get anything.

Wolves home and Newcastle away are games we can quite easily win or lose, but it'd expect our next four form guide to be DLDL. Thankfully after that we play four teams with nothing to play for - BOU h, WAT a, WHU a and HUD h - could win all four, I'd expect us to win the home games, and probably nick a draw somewhere, which is 39 and safety.

I think Ralph will see us home - I think we will win at least two of our last four home games and WAT a, WHU a, BHA a and NEW a are games we should be looking to get something from. The last ten days have been huge - 6pts from 3 games without Danny, and seeing how we're playing I don't see us being relegated now.

And if that is the case, I am so excited about next season - if Ralph gets the players he wants, I think it could be us, Wolves and maybe Leicester challenging for potentially a Europa league spot, and maybe another cup run to boot.

Also delighted to see the pages so quiet the last couple weeks - that can only mean we're playing well and aren't baying for blood!

11 Mar 2019 09:57:17
I don't really want to predict our results anymore. After we only took 2 points from Palace, Burnley and Cardiff. 3 results that could have defined our season. I don't want it to be like last season where other teams results define our fate. I think the result on Saturday was brilliant. I'm hoping we can get more results like this, I wouldn't be surprised if RH keeps the same team that scored the two goals against Spurs for the next run of games. We don't have an out and out striker anymore to rely on goals and it's going to be risky relying on JWP to score most of our goals forward, we just need good moves and someone at the end of it, i. e. Valery on Saturday.

We play best against the top teams that want to come and play football and control the game. Leaving our midfield to press and win the balls in good positions on the field and then break from there. Teams that sit back with players in numbers are the teams that we struggle against hence why we only took a couple of points from the teams around us.

11 Mar 2019 11:01:52
I still think that we can hit the magic 40 points. 3 wins and a draw from our last 8 games is more than possible. Huddersfield and Fulham already have one foot in the championship so it's down to one of 4 in my opinion as I still think that Brighton could slip up. If we keep playing like we did against United and second half against Spurs I'm sure that we'll be OK.

11 Mar 2019 15:25:11
I agree - that’s why I’m happy with our fixtures Jay. Hopefully midtable teams running out the season will have a bit of a hung ho attitude to go and try and play attractive football instead of hanging back, that’s where we could prosper - especially at West Ham and Watford to come.

13 Mar 2019 23:19:43
I think we'll cock up against Brighton; they always see us as the "South Coast Derby" and in comparison, we like to hug them as they are miles away and really don't know what a derby is! 0 points in my opinion.

28 Feb 2019 10:37:47
Absolutely immense performance last night. HUGE win. Granted Fulham were poor and the fans lost it when Cairney was subbed off I thought we took full advantage and managed the game perfectly.

Bertrand was brilliant down the left teaming up with Redmond - very pleased with their link up play. All three CBs were awesome - Ings back in when fit and that should be our team for the run in.

Thought Valery was brilliant as well, the midfield three were superb and Austin was definitely the odd man outfitness wise but he did a job, caused problems and that's why I wanted him to play - even just having a forward to get amongst the opposition defence caused them problems and if he can give a few 50/ 60 min performances hopefully that will all the void Ings has left.

I must say Long was pretty dire when he came on but Fulham never looked like scoring and we never really gave them a chance. If we could nick a draw in either of our next two to set up Brighton away that should put us in a good place.

Out of the bottom 3, let's keep it that way now. If we could beat Brighton that'd well and truly suck them into it as well.

01 Mar 2019 08:02:00
To anyone at the game, And also the eds, what is your opinion of cairney? He seemed to be one of there best players last season in getting promoted but hasn't done a lot this season. has he been misused or is he just not up to premier league standard? I always thought he was the type of creative midfielder that we lacked, having seen a lot of championship highlights of Fulham last year. any info would be great.

{Ed001's Note - he missed a chunk with injury mate. He is only just getting going but has been one of their better players.}

01 Mar 2019 09:24:28
Ranieri played him on the right and the Fulham fans weren’t happy. I think they see him as their creative spark but I can’t remember seeing him play at CAM (favoured position) at all this season.
I don’t think it’s helped that their defence has been so poor - after Jokanovic’s misgivings Ranieri tried to shore up defence by playing a very defensive 4-3-3 to stop shafting goals but that’s just restrained the attack - they had about three meaningful attempts all game.
If Fulham go down he’s definitely someone I think we could be looking at - he has the quality when played in the right position and fits our mould. Don’t think he’s been given the best opportunities this season.

01 Mar 2019 17:12:06
Cheers ED.
Ggsy they're definitely going down, so maybe he'd be available at a decent price. Would add creativity in the middle/ number 10. I'd take him, 2 new cbs a striker and a pacy left footed winger.

01 Mar 2019 20:15:12
May be getting a bit ahead of myself but if we could stay up there’d be decent signings to be made out of Fulham - they’d have to sell given their exploits in the summer. Cairney, Seri, Mitrovic, Sessegnon. Not saying they’d necessarily suit us but would be available at discount prices and would want PL football. maybe something to look into.

01 Mar 2019 20:48:04
I don't know if mitrovic would suit our style or not but I do like him. I'm not bothered about sessegnon, think he would still cost mental money. Seri hasn't really done a lot and still cost 25 million so I would pass on him. I think they look worse than average and overpaid on players, some of which we were in for but made the right decision not to get involved with for the moment quoted.

01 Mar 2019 22:34:26
I'd take Mitrovic over Austin or Ings but I don't think anyone else in Fulham's squad is better than we already have. Surely the idea is to purchase players better than those you have and it looks like this Fulham squad is going down so not too many top players there.

04 Mar 2019 08:00:32
Sessengnon would be awesome - maybe the fact that he's failed to set the PL alight would give us a shot at getting him. Still likely to cost more than we'd spend, though.

Cairney would definitely be worth a look, as would Mitrovic. Can't decide if Mitro would fit our play though; we've lacked a strong presence up top since Pelle but I sense Hassenhutl would prefer pace and work rate up top.

27 Feb 2019 15:12:45
Regardless of weather you agree with the transfer policy, the formation or players used. We must all agree that tonight is massive psychologically. A win is a must to put us above Cardiff.

25 Feb 2019 12:32:49
Think the next two days will define our future. If Cardiff better our result we're pretty much done for. If we win and Cardiff don't I hope the mental boost of being outside the bottom three will help us to potentially nab something against Tottenham and United (whose injury list is a pleasant bonus) .

After that we face Liverpool and Wolves at home and have six more fixtures against the 'others' - all of these are matches we should be looking to get something from.

I don't think anyone can deny that having only taken 3 points from 12 against HUD, FUL and CAR this far, Wednesday is a must must must win. This would be my XI in a 3-4-1-2 (I can't see Ralph now going to 4 at the back so I'd hope we play a back THREE as opposed to a FIVE and be more positive;

Yes Austin hasn't been in the best of form and isn't Ralph's cup of tea but we need to play a proper striker against a weak Fulham defence and he is the best option we have. And he has a knack for scoring big goals. I don't want Valery playing against Fulham's wide men which is their strength right now and I think JWP can do a job there in such an important game. He'll also give his all.

Stephens can't be near the side after his recent performances and Yosh has to come back in. He played so well in the Asian cup. I'd then have Sims, Gallagher and Targett to potentially come off the bench for Armstrong, Austin and Bertrand which would potentially give us flexibility to move to a 4-3-3 if we need it.

It'll be my first home game of the Ralph era and I've never seen Saints lose to anyone except Liverpool or Utd in 47 attempts so here's hoping the good luck continues 🤞.

26 Feb 2019 04:59:10
Just my opinion, but Bertrand has done pretty much nothing during last two years. Valery and Targett should definitely start to me. So, Valery and Targett for Bertrand and Austin. Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Sims, Johnson, N'Lundulu, Austin, Slattery. I can't imagine situation, where we'd need Long, Bertrand or Moi in this game.

26 Feb 2019 18:34:09
We have to go 4-2-2-2 this game, surely. Get Austin up with Redmond. Armstrong and jwp behind. Hojbjerg and romeu in front of a back 4 with valery-bednarek-vestergaard-targett. High line, Gunn in goal to sweep. We HAVE to take the game to Fulham, we probably HAVE to score more than once, and we HAVE to win. No other result will do.

26 Feb 2019 20:23:15
I would love love LOVE to see that side played. It’s just whether Ralph has the cojones to go for it. I think if we see that team put out the crowd will be right up for it. The management, the team and the fans need to be positive, I think Cardiff everyone was too timid from the off, we need to be right up for it from the get go. Here’s hoping Everton do us a favour tonight but only a win will do.

25 Feb 2019 08:24:05
The writing is clearly on the wall
Sunday result disappointing but not totally unexpected. D Day on Weds. which will probably determine our stay in the EPL next season. Ralph can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! Apart from Goalkeepers he needs a complete blank canvas for recruitment next season (assuming we stay up) At least 3 class def. 3 class mids and 3 class prolific strikers to consolidate ( buy/ promote young policy) followed by a massive fire sale ( maybe Pompey/ Eastleigh would show some interest) ! In the meantime here's hoping for a last Hurrah from the Patchwork Quilt Outfit!

25 Feb 2019 11:15:34
The Fulham game has now become massive. With Palace, Burnley and Newcastle all picking up points and pulling away from us we are left with trying to get above Cardiff and/ or Brighton who have dropped like a stone over the last few games. I thought that we got off lightly yesterday as it could easily have been 4-0 at the break. Not so sure that the Tenerife trip did much apart from topping up suntans. Stephens still making stupid mistakes. Yoshida has to come back in against Fulham. We shouldn't be thinking this way with almost 1/ 3 of the season left but Hughes was left in charge too long plus we didn't bring in any quality during the transfer window which is now coming back to bite us because of injuries and loss of form, especially up front.

08 Feb 2019 00:07:02
Mixed week of news; pleased to see Ralph taking the squad on a warm weather training camp - should be good bonding and sharpen up the fitness and tactical tweakings for the run in.
Not so good seeing Danny out again. If we can secure safety by late April without overpowering him I'd give him a rest for six weeks and hope he can sort out whatever his continual niggling problem is.

It's an awful time for arguably our biggest game of the season so far with the news coming through about Emiliano. But I'm sure will give him and the Cardiff contingent the utmost respect and have a ruddy good match - can see it being high intensity, emotional and maybe scrappy at times (similar to the reverse fixture) .